Where can I take my 3 month old on holiday?

[Didsomeonesaybunny]

DP has recently signed a generous business deal and has some spare cash and wants to take me and my DD abroad just before Christmas. I find beach holidays a bit of a bore and instead gravitate towards active holidays (bike tours, city tours etc.) but appreciate that this isn’t really possible with a 3 month old baby.

DP has suggested the Maldives; a villa in the sea (very plush) but I’m worried about such a long flight (we will be flying business if log haul and likely disturb folk) and worried I may die of boredom.

I was thinking of a nice villa in Cape Verde or the Canaries as it would be a shorter flight and I suspect there would be more to do.

Suggestions welcomed, thanks!

Cape town/ South Africa. Very baby friendly, lots of days out ( vineyards, animal sanctuaries, stunning beaches). Lots of family friendly restaurants.

Cape Town is a good idea; loads to do and weather should be nice.

Don't worry about the flight. All our flights have been fab, and I was expecting the worst. You just won't be able to tell until you've taken off.

Book your holiday and enjoy!

We’ve flown quite a bit with our son who is almost two - enjoy this time before your DD can walk and wants to move around. Honestly we didn’t know how easy we had it back then! Have a great holiday :)

Skycots are actually really rare. I tried for ages to get one on a direct flight to America but the only options were to fly from London and switch onto another to my destination

Worth looking into though

If you fly south (or north)
rather than east or west, jet lag will be minimal.

I fly on Wednesday to Florida with our 3 month old. We booked it before we knew anything about her and didn't want to cancel so that's that.. I wouldn't say I'm not nervous but everyone I've spoken to said now is the time do go long haul, before they're wanting to be up and out of seats etc. And most babies are lulled to sleep by the white noise of the aircraft.

The jet lag on return and being out of routine, I'm not so much looking forward to!

We stayed in England thinking it would be easier with a 3 month old. It rained on and off all week, the pushchair wheel got a puncture miles from the rental house and it was cold despite it being the summer.

I vowed never again. We should have gone somewhere warm and dry. We have done since!

Babies are fairly portable.

Just choose somewhere you want to go and go for it.

Jet lag will be minimal. Um si ski have children because children especially a 3 month old won't understand and sleep all day and be awake all night unless it's 2-4 hours away and won't disturb their light and dark routine unless they sleep for 24hrs lol which of course babies don't and any change of routine is going to make them cry

Cape Town is a great idea. Basically on the same time zone. Loads to do and best time of the year to go.

Re the flight, I’ve had good ones and ones where I just want to die from frustration and exhaustion. Business will make it easier though. On BA to Cape Town get the two middle seats. They’re always last to go but for a couple with a baby they’re the best ones and that’s where the bassinet is too.

Since when do they allow babies in first class?

Is this just another made up post. Yawn!

I would fly first class but not allowed to with young children under 2 unless they have their own seat and even then the airline will call you to rearrange seating

My babies have slept fine on flights - business class is a huge help here, as you can lie flat and so can they.
My biggest concern would be number of transfers and time difference only to a degree, as 3 month olds often don't sleep perfectly anyway!
If you love city tours, they should be totally possible with a baby, slings are often better. European ones are lovely - places like Slovenia have some city, easy to access countryside and decent medical care etc if needed.
Or for a random long haul one, have you ever been to Japan? We found it great with babies, people are so kind to them, it's easy to get around (slings or at most a yoyo buggy though) and so interesting!

Am I being excluded somehow and not aware?

Which airlines are these that allow children under 2 in first class. Sky cots aren't in first class or business and they are impossible to find on a direct route

Several airlines allow infants in First Class, but it isn't free, and its not just the normal small cover charge. It can be a hefty fee to have a baby, even if travelling on your knee. And no, they often don't have a sky cot in first class, so they are sharing your seat.

If money is no object then yes, first and business are best. However, its perfectly possible to take an infant one economy, even if you can't get a bulk head and/or sky cot. My BIL/SIL took their 6mo to Australia in economy and all was fine.

You also have the option to pay for a seat, in economy, specifically for the baby. Some allow certain car seats for the baby to go in during the flight - though not take off and landing usually.

BA may not have bassinets in business but many others do. In any case, you don't need one with a wider lay flat seat. I sadly have no experience about first class though!

BA definitely have bassinets in Business (Club). As a PP said, get the 2 rear facing middle Club seats with the bassinets and it works really well.

We have been flying with DS since he was 11 weeks old and it is absolutely fine to fly with a baby (albeit he was ebf at that age).

I came on to suggest Cape Town. Lovely! Bermuda would be nice too.

Otherwise I’d definitely pick somewhere where you can stay in a villa or an apartment. Miserable being stuck in a hotel room with a child sleeping all the time.

Honestly, I wouldn’t go away with such a young baby. It’s so much easier to stay home with your usual routine and equipment.